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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

some information about my background.

­­I lost my sight in 1977 after a period with some retraining I started work in blindcraft Edinburgh a supported workshop for blind and disabled in1978. I became interested in campaigning to promote what blind people can do and was active in trade union movement. I did a fair amount of travelling and notice there were a number of travel schemes for the blind so in1987 the national league of blind and disabled campaigned to unify these schemes and I coordinated this in contacting all 32 local councils in Scotland. I met 4 transports ministers in process, I addressed the convention of Scottish local authorities transport committee and anybody involved in transport. In 1999 we were successful in achieving free travel for blind and partially sighted people on buses trains ferries and Glasgow underground this covers all Scotland and allows Scottish people to go to Carlisle, Berwick on tweed. This was followed with a scheme for disabled people and senior citizens on buses only at the moment.

After this I became interested in transport issues and fully support the south suburban line in Edinburgh, the re-opening of the Waverley line to Galashiels and on to Newcastlton and Carlisle this would help tourism in the Scottish borders and also the re-opening of the appropriate stations from Portobello onwards. I think this would help the congestion in Edinburgh and looking at the possibility of opening of the line to Peebles Walkerburn Innerlethan and Galashiels. The viability of opening the metro raillink to Penicuick with appropriate stations.